When we consider that the merits which we benefit from today were earned by our forefathers, we should reflect on the difficulties they had to undergo in order to acquire those merits.
When we wonder what happiness our descendants will enjoy, we should consider how easy it will be for them to squander the legacy we bequeath to them.
问祖宗之德泽，吾身所享者是，当念其积累之难；问子孙之福祉，吾身所贻者是，要思其倾覆之易。
Notes
All we possess today is essentially the continuation of our ancestors’ virtuous legacy. Only by remembering its hard-won accumulation can we truly value this inheritance.
Our generation bears direct responsibility for our descendants’ well-being. The quality of “what we bequeath” determines whether blessings endure—we must remain vigilant against its ease of collapse.
The core of family heritage lies in spiritual continuity, not material accumulation. Virtuous deeds, moral character, and family traditions hold far greater enduring value than wealth.
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